EP1044895B1 - Dispensing head for a valve or pump device - Google Patents

Abstract

Dispenser head (10) activates pump or valve (4) to dispense product through dispenser aperture (13). Head has seal (15) ensu imperviousness between head and rod of pump or valve (6) of dispenser (4). Seal has truncated cone profile, and can therefore be inserted more or less deeply inside rod. Seal can seal rods of different diameters. An Independent claim is also included for the dispenser.

Description

The present invention relates to a dispensing head, intended for actuation a distribution member, of the valve or pump type, and the distribution of a product, in particular cosmetic, contained in a container via at least one orifice of distribution. The invention is particularly suitable for containers pressurized, in particular by means of a propellant gas, which can be possibly separated from the product by a piston. As examples, we can cite packaging and distribution of hair products, especially in the form spray, hairspray, foam, gel, or cream, or hygiene products body.

Conventionally, a distribution head, at its simplest expression, is formed by a simple push button, in particular in polyethylene or made of polypropylene, and comprising a connection sleeve, self-tightening mounted on the outer surface of a pump or valve stem, which is present in the form of a hollow tubular element. Self tightening assembly also seals the connection between the dispensing head and the rod pump or valve. The push button forms a support surface so to allow actuation of the pump or valve. In a little shape more sophisticated, such a dispensing head consists of a mounted hoop fixedly on a container, and a part movable relative to the hoop for allow actuation of the pump or valve. The same way as for a simple push button, a connection element, in communication with a dispensing opening of the head, is self-tightening mounted on the rod valve or pump, thereby ensuring the tightness of the connection between the head valve and pump or valve stem.

Among the valves offered by the main manufacturers, not all have valve stems with the same outside diameter. So we can observe from one manufacturer to another, variations in diameter can be of the order of 0.5 mm or more. Thus, a dispensing head can be adapted to a valve particular, and unsuitable for another, the reason being that the element of connection of a given distribution head will be self-tightening, and therefore waterproof on one type of valve, while it will not be self-tightening on another type of valve, using a smaller outer diameter valve stem. In a way general, the same is true for pumps.

As a result, each type of pump or valve gives rise to the manufacture of a dispensing head using its own mold, increasing costs of manufacturing in a substantial way. In addition, the self-tightening assemblies are sometimes problematic due to manufacturing tolerances different parts to be assembled together.

In document BE-A-560 115 (corresponding to the preamble of claim 1), there is described a valve stem on which is mounted a push button. A push button connection element is intended to be inserted inside the valve stem. The connection element is of constant external section. Consequently, assuming that this element connection is intended to seal, it can not adapt so watertight for only one particular valve stem diameter (to tolerances near).

In document EP-A-0 734 969 (also corresponding to the preamble of claim 1), an element is intended to be inserted inside of the valve stem, said element being of constant external section. According to what document, the inner section of the sealing element is axially variable. However, this variation has no impact on the rod diameters on which the element can be tightly fitted. So, like the document previous, such an element, assuming that it is intended to seal, does not can only seal for one particular valve stem diameter (aux tolerances).

Also, is it an object of the invention to provide a dispensing head "universal" which solves all or part of the problems previously discussed with reference to conventional dispensing heads.

It is in particular an object of the invention to provide a dispensing head suitable for mounting on pump or valve stems of different diameters.

Other objects will appear in the detailed description which follows.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a dispensing head intended for actuating a distribution member, in particular a pump or a valve, and to the distribution of a product, in particular cosmetic, via at least a dispensing orifice, said dispensing head comprising an element capable of form a seal between the dispensing head and a pump or valve stem of said dispensing member, said sealing element being able to come in sealed engagement inside said pump or valve stem, characterized in that said sealing element is suitable for sealing for pump or valve stems with diameters different interiors.

Thus, according to the invention, the seal is ensured inside the pump rod or valve on which the dispensing head is mounted, which allows, using a sealing element of appropriate shape, to seal whatever the inside diameter of pump or valve stem, at least within a range given. As an indication, the width of such a range can be of the order of mm or more. This eliminates the problem associated with differences in rod diameter of pump or valve that is observed from one manufacturer to another. We can thus realize dispensing heads that can be fitted to pump or valve stems not having the same diameter, and therefore use the same distribution head for the different types of valves or pumps offered by the different manufacturers.

Advantageously, said sealing element is formed of a cross-section skirt axially variable exterior. Preferably, the outer section of the means sealing gradually decreases in the direction of the distribution. More preferably, the sealing skirt forms a truncated cone a top of which is turned towards the distribution member. So the element of connection engages more or less deeply inside the rod of pump or valve, depending on the inside diameter of the valve stem or pump.

According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, and to the Unlike conventional devices, fixing the dispensing head to the distribution assembly for which it is intended, is produced by means separate from those ensuring the seal between the dispensing head and the pump or valve of the dispensing member. Thus, according to one embodiment preferred, the dispensing head comprises a connection element intended for the fixing of the dispensing head on the pump or valve stem of the distribution, said connecting element comprising deformable means elastically able to come into elastic abutment on an outer surface of the pump or valve stem. Thus, in the case of a push button, maintaining the push button on the pump or valve stem is ensured by the single tightening elastic of the connecting element on the pump or valve stem. However, this tightening does not ensure the tight connection between the pump rod or valve and the dispensing head, the sealed connection being made by a auxiliary element engaged inside the pump rod or valve.

According to a preferred embodiment, the elastically deformable means consist of a plurality of fins arranged on an internal surface of the connecting element, and at least the free end of which is intended to come in elastic engagement against said outer surface of the pump rod or valve.

Such fins can, in the position mounted on the pump or valve stem, be oriented at an average angle, at least at their free end, ranging from 10 ° to 80 ° with respect to a radial direction to the element of connection.

Advantageously, in the vicinity of a free end of the element of connection, the fins have a profile, in particular chamfered, capable of promoting the mounting the connection element on the pump or valve stem. The free end of the pump or valve stem may also have a profile, in particular rounded or chamfered, suitable for promoting engagement fins on the outer surface of the pump or valve stem.

Said (or said) dispensing orifice (s) can (can) be formed in a diffusion member such as a nozzle, in particular a vortex, a grid, a open or semi-open cell foam, or a frit, in particular of ceramic or thermoplastic.

According to another aspect of the invention, an assembly is also produced for the packaging and distribution under pressure of a product, in particular cosmetic, comprising a container containing said product, said set being equipped with a distribution member, in particular a pump or a valve, and a dispensing head according to the invention, intended for actuating the member distribution, and the distribution of the product via at least one dispensing orifice.

The assembly can notably consist of a pressurized assembly containing a product, in particular cosmetic, pressurized by means of a propellant, or a piston, and surmounted by a valve. The valve can be of the push-in type or tilting.

• la figure 1 représente un ensemble de distribution, du type à valve, et équipé d'une tête de distribution selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 illustre une vue de détail du montage de l'élément de raccordement de la tête de distribution sur la tige de valve de l'ensemble de la figure 1 ; et
• les figures 3A-3C illustrent différentes positions des moyens élastiquement déformables de l'élément de raccordement de la tête de distribution des figures 1 et 2.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• FIG. 1 represents a distribution assembly, of the valve type, and equipped with a distribution head according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of the mounting of the connection element of the dispensing head on the valve stem of the assembly of FIG. 1; and
• FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate different positions of the elastically deformable means of the connection element of the dispensing head of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The packaging assembly 1 represented in FIG. 1 comprises a container 2 in the form of a can, in particular in tinplate or aluminum. Container 2 has a free edge delimiting an opening 3 in which is mounted a valve 4, crimped onto a valve holder cup 5. The valve is conventional, and this fact does not require a detailed description. In the embodiment illustrated, the valve 4 is of the push-in type, and comprises a valve stem 6, in the form of a hollow tubular element emerging from the valve body 7. In depending on valve manufacturers, valve stem 6 may have an outside diameter ranging, for information, from 3.3 mm to 4 mm. The inside diameter of the valve stem is also variable depending on the manufacturers. It can range from 2mm to 2.5mm.

On the valve stem, a dispensing head 10 is tightly mounted, under shape of an X axis push button, coincident with the axis of the container 2, thus with the axis of the valve 4. The dispensing head 10 has a surface support 11 intended for actuation of the valve 4 by depression, and a nozzle vortex 12 pierced in its center with a dispensing orifice 13. The nozzle vortex is fed by a conduit 14 perpendicular to the axis X, and opening in the X axis inside a sealing skirt 15 intended, as we will see it in more detail with reference to Figure 2, to ensure a tight assembly of the dispensing head 10 on the valve stem 6. The push button has a side skirt 16, one free end of which is disposed at a distance from the bottom of the cup 5 so as to be able to sink in response to a pressing force exerted on the surface 11. The dispensing head 10 is made of polypropylene or polyethylene.

As it appears in detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3A-3C, the mounting of the dispensing head 10 on the valve stem 6 is ensured by means of an element connection 20, in the form of a skirt concentric with the sealing skirt 15, and the inner surface of which forms fins 21, spaced apart regular. At least the free end of the fins 21 is directed in one direction other than radial. The average angle formed by the free end 22 of the fins 21 by relative to the radial direction to the sleeve 20 is of the order of 50 ° to 60 °. The free end 22 of the fins 21 is intended to come into elastic support on a corresponding portion of the external surface 23 of the valve stem 6.

In the mounted position illustrated in FIG. 2, the sealing skirt 15 comes in engagement inside the valve stem 6. Due to the truncated cone profile of the outer surface of the sealing skirt 15, the latter, depending on the inside diameter of valve stem 6, more or less deeply engages inside the valve stem 6, thus ensuring a tight connection on any type of valve, regardless of its manufacturer. Similarly, in position mounted, the fins 21 have their free ends 22 in elastic support on the external surface 23 of the valve stem, ensuring the maintenance in position, of the dispensing head 10 on the valve stem 6. Due to the elasticity of the fins 21, the dispensing head 10 is kept in position on the valve 4, regardless of the outside diameter of the valve stem 6 within a range of variations given. The dispensing head according to this embodiment of the invention can thus accommodate outside valve stem diameters which can vary by 1 mm or more.

In the sectional view of FIG. 3A, the connecting element 20 is not mounted. The fins 21 are not elastically stressed. In Figure 3B, the dispensing head 10 is mounted on a valve stem 6. The fins are elastically stressed so as to ensure a tightening on the valve stem 6. In FIG. 3C, the dispensing head 10 is mounted on a valve stem 6 of outside diameter, less than the outside diameter of the valve stem 6 of the figure 3B. The average angle formed by the free end of the fins 21 with respect to the radial direction to the sleeve 20 is less than the angle they form in the figure 3B. In both cases, the stress exerted by the fins 21 on the surface 23 of the valve stem 6 is sufficient to maintain the dispensing head 10 on the valve stem 6.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention; near the end free 24 of the connecting element 20, the fins 21 form a profile chamfered or beveled, so that, in cooperation with a rounded profile of the free end 25 of the valve stem 6, favor the mounting of the head of distribution 10 on the valve stem 6.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously there may be variations made without departing from the invention as claimed below.

Claims (9)

1. Dispensing head (10) intended for actuating a dispensing member (4), particularly a pump or a valve, and for dispensing a product, particularly a cosmetic product, via at least one dispensing orifice (13), the said dispensing head (10) including an element (15) capable of forming a seal between the dispensing head (10) and a pump or valve stem (6) of the said dispensing member (4), the said sealing element (15) being able to engage in a sealed manner inside the said pump or valve stem (6), characterized in that the said sealing element is able to make a seal on pump or valve stems (6) of different inside diameters.
2. Dispensing head according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said sealing element (15) is formed of a skirt with an axially variable exterior cross section.
3. Dispensing head according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said skirt (15) forms a cone frustum, a vertex of which faces towards the said dispensing member (4).
4. Dispensing head according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a connecting element (20) is provided, so as to allow the dispensing head to be attached to the said pump or valve stem (6), the said connecting element (20) including elastically deformable means (21) capable of pressing elastically against an exterior surface (23) of the pump or valve stem (6).
5. Dispensing head according to Claim 4, characterized in that the elastically deformable means consist of a number of fins (21) arranged on an interior surface of the connecting element (20), and at least the free end (22) of which is intended to engage elastically against the said exterior surface (23) of the pump or valve stem (6).
6. Dispensing head according to Claim 5, characterized in that, near a free end (24) of the connecting element (20), the fins (21) have a profile, particularly a chamfered profile, able to assist with mounting the connecting element (20) on the pump or valve stem (6).
7. Dispensing head according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the said dispensing orifice(s) (13) is (are) formed in a diffuser member (12) such as a nozzle, particularly one which induces swirl, a grating, an open-cell or semi-open-cell foam or a frit.
8. Assembly (1) for packaging a product, particularly a cosmetic product, and dispensing it under pressure, including a container (2) containing the said product, the said assembly (1) being fitted with a dispensing member (4), particularly with a pump or a valve, and with a dispensing head (10) intended for actuating the dispensing member (4) and for dispensing the product via at least one dispensing orifice (13), characterized in that the dispensing head (10) is one according to any one of the preceding claims.
9. Assembly (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the container (2) is pressurized, particularly by means of a propellent gas or a piston, the dispensing member (4) being formed by a valve.

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